Some tips needed to improve verbal

[divijdua358]

Hi. I'll be appearing for the GMAT on the 25th of July. It's 2nd today.
I started my preparation in june first week.
1st June:GMAT official Mock 1: 510 Q44 V17
30th June: GMAT official mock (After reset): 640 Q48 V31

I think i have made progress in Quant. But really have to raise my verbal score. I desperately want more than 720. And i believe, having my quant around 49 or 50, I will need atleast 40 in verbal.

Please help me. I just have 20 days to go. I know it's difficult.
Verbal is hard for me as it is not my 1st language.

[StaceyKoprince]

Good work so far.

Most people would need much longer than 20 days to go from 640 to 720.

Also, you mentioned that your second test score was "after reset" - does that mean that you repeated a test / saw test questions that you had seen before? If so, your test score was probably at least a little inflated.

Did you do essay and IR when taking those practice tests? If not, again, your test score was probably at least a little inflated. (It takes mental energy to do essay and IR, so most people will see a performance jump on Q and V when they skip essay and IR.)

If those things are the case, then your current level is lower than 640, making it even less likely that you'll get to 720 in 20 days.

Further, you're hoping to take verbal from 59th percentile to at least 90th percentile. Again, that kind of a jump in that timeframe is extremely unusual.

So the real question you need to ask yourself right now is this: is the score more important? or is the test date (25 July) more important?

If you have a hard application deadline, then you're stuck and you'll just have to go with whatever you can in that timeframe - but set yourself a more realistic goal. If you don't have a hard deadline, then you should give yourself more time. What you should NOT do is try to go for the 720 in such a short timeframe - you'll end up making a lot of bad "cramming" decisions that will not help you get the score you need by the 25th and will also just put your eventual result off even further (because you'll have wasted the time between now and the 25th).

So answer that above question for me. Also, use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. We'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

If you have not yet taken an MGMAT CAT, take one (GMATPrep doesn't give you any data to analyze). Take the test under 100% official conditions, including essay, IR, length of breaks, no use of the pause button, etc.

Also, read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

And this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

[divijdua358]

Hi Stacey. Thanks for your reply.
I wanted to tell you that I took my test under proper exam conditions. Attempted the essay, IR, Quant , verbal, everything.
And after resetting the exam, I got to see one duplicate question because there was a month's gap in between the 2 tests.
Also, i marked that one as wrong to be honest.

I have taken 2 MGMAT tests as well.
MGMAT1: Q45 V32 640 (3rd July)
MGMAT2: Q46 V34 660 (7th July)

I agree reaching a 720 is very tough, especially in such a short time frame. I take the gmat on the 25th of july. Still have another 2 weeks to go. But i believe in myself. I can .
I need improvement in verbal. That really pulls my score back.
Kindly reply and provide me with some last 2 weeks tips for improving verbal

[StaceyKoprince]

I need you to analyze your practice tests (as described in my last post - scroll up to see) in order to advise you on improving verbal. Until I know your strengths and weaknesses, I can't tell what might help you!